Air suspension system

Abstract

The integrated tank and compressor mounting system for a motorcycle has a mount block which has a mounting face, and a compressor clamp. The mount block has a threaded cylindrical section which forms a tank mount for mounting a tank. The tank has a cylindrical tubular section closed at one end and threaded at the other end such that the tank threads correspond to the mount block threads. The tank provides air for an air suspension which includes a forward suspension unit activated by air and an aft suspension unit activated by air. A supply line connects the tank air volume to an inlet valve on the suspension control unit. The suspension control unit has a cylindrical forward control valve passage and the forward control valve passage has a forward transfer chamber.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A suspension control system comprising:
 one or more suspension units activated by pressure, wherein the one or more suspension units are configured to receive a supply pressure supplied to the one or more suspension units; 
 one or more control valve passages, wherein each control valve passage of the one or more control valve passages has a transfer chamber, wherein the transfer chamber is larger than the control valve passage; and wherein the transfer chamber connects to an entrance port and an exit port; 
 one or more component chambers, wherein the one or more component chambers is formed on each of the respective one or more control valve passages; and 
 wherein each component chamber includes a component port; and 
 wherein each component port is connected to its respective suspension unit; 
 one or more control valves, wherein a control valve of the one or more control valves is inserted into the respective control valve passage of the one or more control valve passages; 
 one or more shafts, wherein the one or more shafts are installed as part of the one or more control valves; 
 one or more main seals, wherein each main seal of the one or more main seals is formed on a respective shaft of the one or more shafts, wherein each main seal of the one or more main seals is formed along an axial length of the respective control valve of the one or more control valves such that when the one more control valves is pushed towards the respective one or more component chambers and away from the respective one or more transfer chambers, the respective one or more main seals is in a closed position and inhibits air passage between the respective one or more transfer chambers and the respective one or more component chambers; 
 and when the one or more control valves is pulled away from the respective component port of the one or more control valves, the respective one or more main seals is in an open position and moves to the respective one or more transfers chambers allowing flow to bypass the respective one or more mains seals and connect the respective one or more component chamber with the respective one or more transfer chambers and both a respective one or more entrance port and exit port; 
 a main passage, wherein the main passage connects to the respective one or more entrance port and exit port wherein the main passage is connected to both an inlet valve and an exhaust valve; wherein the inlet valve is connected to supply pressure; and wherein the inlet valve is opened and the one or more control valves is open so that flow can pass from the supply pressure to the respective one or more suspension units of any of the open one or more control valves; and 
 wherein the exhaust valve is opened and one or more of the control valves is open, wherein flow can pass from the respective one or more suspension units of any of the open one or more control valves out of the exhaust valve; and 
 any one or combination thereof of the one or more suspension units may be linked in unison or independently to the supply pressure via the inlet valve or exhausted through the exhaust valve via the opening and closing of the one or more control valves. 
 
     
     
       2. The suspension control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the one or more control valve passages are arranged in the suspension control system so that each entrance port and exit port may be formed as one main passage through the entire suspension control system. 
 
     
     
       3. The suspension control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the one or more control valves each have a component seal which prevents flow from exiting the respective one or more component chamber opposite the respective one or more main seal. 
 
     
     
       4. The suspension control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the one or more control valves each have a transfer seal which prevents flow from exiting the respective one or more transfer chamber opposite the respective one or more main seal. 
 
     
     
       5. The suspension control system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air tank providing the supply pressure to the suspension control system; 
 a pressure switch is connected to a tank volume; and 
 the pressure switch is electrically connected to a power supply on one end and to a compressor on an other end. 
 
     
     
       6. The suspension control system of  claim 1 , further comprising: an integrated tank and compressor mounting system connected to the suspension units comprising:
 a mount block, wherein the mount block has a mounting face; 
 said mounting face engages a vehicle's existing mount; 
 said mounting face has one or more receptacles to engage a mounting block fastener; 
 the mounting block fastener holds said mounting face to the vehicle's existing mount; 
 the mount block also has a compressor clamp for clamping a compressor to the mount block; and 
 the mount block has a tank, said tank is connected to the compressor to allow compressed fluid to flow from the compressor to the tank. 
 
     
     
       7. The suspension control system of  claim 6 , wherein the mount block has a threaded cylindrical section which forms a tank mount; and the tank includes a cylindrical tubular section closed at one end and a threaded section at the opposite end such that the tank threads engage the mount block threads to form a threaded joint. 
     
     
       8. The suspension control system of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting face is positioned at an angle relative to the tank mount so that the tank will clear an existing frame mounting rail. 
     
     
       9. The suspension control system of  claim 7 , wherein said mounting face engages a vehicle's existing mount at a lower saddlebag support rail and the mounting face is positioned at an angle relative to the tank mount so that the tank will clear an existing frame mounting rail. 
     
     
       10. The suspension control system of  claim 7 , wherein the compressor clamp comprises a cylindrical opening to fit the compressor. 
     
     
       11. The suspension control system of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the mounting face is positioned at an angle relative to the tank mount so that the tank will clear an existing frame mounting rail; and a pressure switch is connected to the tank volume; and 
 the pressure switch is electrically connected to a power supply on one end and the compressor on the other end, such that when the tank pressure drops below a set amount the compressor turns on and when the tank pressure goes above a set amount the compressor turns off; and said pressure switch is attached to the mount block on the side opposite the tank mount; and a receptacle for air transfer from the compressor to the tank volume is attached to the mount block opposite the tank mount. 
 
     
     
       12. The suspension control system of  claim 7 , wherein the compressor clamp comprises a cylindrical opening to fit the compressor; and the mount block has one or more clamp bolts which act to clamp the compressor in the provided cylindrical opening. 
     
     
       13. The suspension control system of  claim 7 ,
 wherein a pressure switch is connected to the tank volume; and the pressure switch is electrically connected to a power supply on one end and the compressor on the other end, such that when the tank pressure drops below a set amount the compressor turns on and when the tank pressure goes above a set amount the compressor turns off; and said pressure switch is attached to the mount block on the side opposite the tank mount; and a receptacle for air transfer from the compressor to the tank volume is attached to the mount block opposite the tank mount; and connected to the mount block and in-line with the flow of air from the compressor to the tank air volume is a check valve to prevent backflow from the tank air volume to the compressor. 
 
     
     
       14. The suspension control system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a supply line, wherein the supply line connects to the tank at the center of the closed end of the tank; 
 wherein the supply line connects the tank air volume to the suspension control system; 
 the compressor clamp comprises a cylindrical opening to fit the compressor; 
 the mount block has one or more clamp bolts which act to clamp the compressor in the provided cylindrical opening; and 
 the mounting face is positioned at an angle relative to the tank mount so that the tank will clear an existing frame mounting rail; 
 a pressure switch is connected to the tank volume; and the pressure switch is electrically connected to a power supply on one end and the compressor on the other end, such that when the tank pressure drops below a set amount the compressor turns on and when the tank pressure goes above a set amount the compressor turns off; and 
 said pressure switch is attached to the mount block on the side opposite the tank mount; and a receptacle for air transfer from the compressor to the tank volume is attached to the mount block opposite the tank mount; and connected to the mount block and in-line with the flow of air from the compressor to the tank air volume is a check valve to prevent backflow from the tank air volume to the compressor.